Triple Success for Sherraine at 2026 HFNZ-Semex On-Farm Competition

Swannanoa’s Sherraine Holsteins Ltd has celebrated an impressive result at the 2026 HFNZ-Semex On-Farm Competition, with its Holstein Friesians securing three placings across two of the six national classes.

The winners were announced at the national Semex On-Farm awards evening, held last night at the Sudima Auckland Airport Hotel as part of the 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ AGM and Conference.

Leading the way for the Sherraine team was Sherraine Lambda Tokyo-ET, which claimed the Maughlin Storm Two-Year-Old Cow title. Herdmate Sherraine Chief Tessa-ET also impressed, finishing second in the same class.

Adding to the success was Sherraine Skick Vida, which placed second in the Townson Lindy Four-Year-Old class.

Owned by Peter and Rhonda Sherriff, and daughter and son-in-law Olivia and Jared Cahill, Sherraine Holsteins Ltd has built a long-standing reputation for pedigree breeding, producing both showring champions and high-performing production cows. The herd is also home to Sherraine Fortune Carra EX3, a four-time finalist in the Valden Cow of the Year competition.

The HFNZ-Semex On-Farm Competition promotes the Holstein Friesian breed by assessing individual cows on their home farms under natural conditions. Judged without fitting or halters, the competition allows animals to be evaluated in a genuine production environment.

This year, 785 cows from 100 herds were assessed across eight regions. Judging focused on structural correctness using a specially designed linear scoring system. The top two cows from each region progressed to the national final, which was judged by Australia’s David Mayo.

Of the six national champions crowned in 2026, four came from South Island herds in Swannanoa, Lincoln and Ashburton, while the remaining two winners were from Putaruru and Te Aroha in the North Island, highlighting the strength and depth of the Holstein Friesian breed throughout New Zealand.

This year, Semex also added a New Zealand Overall Champion and New Zealand Reserve Champion to the list of awards, something it plans to continue going forward.

For 2026, the Overall New Zealand Champion was Waipiri Mogul Totie (Terpstra/Lister Partnership, Te Aroha) and the Overall New Zealand Reserve Champion was Belbrook Ferraro Jess (Belbrook Farming, Swannanoa).

Semex NZ General Manager Ryan Lett said his team looks forward to the competition every year.

“It’s a great competition, not only for the members of HFNZ but for our organisation and our staff as well,” he says. “We love the time we have running the competition and seeing the cows, which is the whole point: seeing great cows on farm that otherwise wouldn’t be seen by anyone.”

David Mayo spoke about the extremely high quality of the cows in this year’s competition.

“I think all breeders should all be proud of their results, whether that’s in the regional competition or if you have cows in the finals. In this competition the quality of the cows was second to none; it was a tremendous competition.”

2026 HFNZ SEMEX ON-FARM COMPETITION RESULTS 

MAUGHLIN STORM – TWO -YEAR-OLD COW

1. Sherraine Lambda Tokyo-ET (Sherraine Holsteins, Swannanoa)
2. Sherraine Chief Tessa-ET (Sherraine Holsteins, Swannanoa)
3. Busybrook Lemagic Rose (Henley Farming Company Ltd, Oamaru)
4. Raetea Lambda Tiella (Schnuriger Family Trust, Rotorua)
5. Waikopani Craig Owen S1F (Waikopani Holdings Ltd, Whangarei)
6. Lawwal Lambda O’Kalibra-ET (Triple B Syndicate, Cambridge)

COMESTAR LEADER – THREE-YEAR-OLD COW

1. Belbrook Ferraro Jess (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Swannanoa)
2. Tronnoco Lambda Gloria (Lyncrest Dairies Ltd, Invercargill)
3. Cavan Chief Tonio (L O’Reilly, Tirau)
4. Radly Handshake Lavana (Ridge Line Farms (2012) Limited, Rongotea)
5. Busybrook D-Lambda Ava-ET (Henley Farming Company Ltd, Oamaru)
6. Trilogy Lambda Valma (Trilogy Farms Ltd, Warea)

TOWNSON LINDY – FOUR-YEAR-OLD COW 

1. Lakeside Positive Tina S0F (Lakeside Dairies Limited, Putaruru)
2. Sherraine Skick Vida (Sherraine Holsteins Limited, Swannanoa)
3. Belbrook Discjockey Charm (Belbrook Farming Limited, Swannanoa)
4. Quinedale Skick Zap S2F (Quinedale Farms Ltd, Taupiri)
5. Fantastic Crush Marley (Fusion Genetics Limited, Palmerston North)
6. Halls Positive Gaye-TW S2F (Hall’s Enterprises Ltd No 1, Wallacetown)

HANOVERHILL RAIDER – FIVE-YEAR-OLD COW

1. Tahora Crushabul Floris (Tahora Farms, Lincoln)
2. Busybrook Sidekick Zina (Henley Farming Company Ltd, Oamaru)
3. Waipiri CR Freaky Girl-ET (Ferdon Genetics, Otorohanga)
4. Mokoia Royalcrush Ribena (Mokoia Holsteins, Woodville)
5. Hukaview Royalcrush Fran (Barwell Farm Limited, Ashburton)
6. Quinedale Byway Izzy (Quinedale Farms Ltd, Taupiri)

CONANT-ACRES JY BROKER – MATURE COW

1. Waipiri Mogul Totie (Terpstra/Lister Partnership, Te Aroha)
2. Glenalla Unix Maple-ET (Gilbert Farm Limited, Rakaia)
3. Ronnoco SK Odessa (B & J O’Connor, Timaru)
4. Charbelle Tatoo Pix (Sherborne Farms Ltd, Morrinsville)
5. Busybrook Arangatang-ET (R & S Trainor, Dannevirke)
6. Tahora Doorman Largina (Joyclas Friesians, Linton)

COMESTAR LAURIE SHEIK – VETERAN COW

1. Barwell Solomon Aimee (Barwell Farm Limited, Ashburton)
2. Raetea Licorice Brandy (Schnuriger Family Trust, Rotorua)
3. Waiview Windbrook Cheeky (GM & AM Woolley, Tuamarina)
4. Okawa Mogul Gem (B Barclay, Otorohanga)
5. Ruanui WB Addy-ET (R & S Trainor, Dannevirke)
6. Raymac Manifold Orsola (S & J Ray, Balclutha)

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION

Waipiri Mogul Totie (Terpstra/Lister Partnership, Te Aroha)

NEW ZEALAND RESERVE CHAMPION

Belbrook Ferraro Jess (Belbrook Farming Ltd, Swannanoa)